Azerbaijan makes arrests in planned attack on U.S., Israeli embassies

Twenty-two people were arrested in Azerbaijan on suspicion of planning to attack the American and Israeli embassies.

The arrests Wednesday were announced by the national security ministry, which said the attacks were to be undertaken on behalf of Iran, the French news agency AFP reported.

Last month, suspected terrorists with links to Iran and Hezbollah were arrested in Azerbaijan and accused of planning terrorist attacks against foreigners in Baku, the capital. In January, at least two men were arrested after planning an attack on two Israeli teachers—Chabad emissaries at the Or Avner school in Baku.

Israel Aerospace Industries, a state-run company, signed a $1.6 billion deal in February to sell sophisticated military technology to Azerbaijan.